World Bank Country Studieshttp://hdl.handle.net/10986/4392
Fri, 31 Jul 2015 11:57:10 GMT2015-07-31T11:57:10ZEconomic Growth in the Republic of Yemen : Sources, Constraints, and Potentialshttp://hdl.handle.net/10986/15222
Economic Growth in the Republic of Yemen : Sources, Constraints, and Potentials
World Bank
High and sustained rate of economic
growth in Yemen is a necesary, though not sufficient,
condition for reduction of the high incidence of poverty and
for raising the living standards of Yemeni citizens.
Evidence in this report suggests that the main obstacle to
rapid and sustained economic growth is the weak governance
that characterizes Yemen in addition to the weaknesses in
domestic security, property rights, and rule of law systems.
Weak governance in Yemen is characterized/manifested by
widespread corruption, lack of transparency and
accountability, inefficiency in the interaction of public
officials and private business, ineffective or absent market
promoting institutions such as those enforcing contracts
(courts, tribunals, etc.), poor performance of the public
sector in terms of delivering essential goods and
implementing programs, associated lack of incentives and
skills in the civil service, and weak enforceability of
contracts and rulings. Along with ordering the governance
situation, there are areas that should receive government
priority in the short and medium term, including: 1)
enhancing domestic security to boost economic activity in
all economic sectors; 2) removing excessive and arbitrary
regulations to strengthen basic infrastructure and other
services and to attract private investment into these
sectors; 3) legal and judicial reform; and 4) sustained
implementation of civil service reforms.
Tue, 01 Jan 2002 00:00:00 GMThttp://hdl.handle.net/10986/152222002-01-01T00:00:00ZHealth Sector Reform in Bolivia : A Decentralization Case Studyhttp://hdl.handle.net/10986/15209
Health Sector Reform in Bolivia : A Decentralization Case Study
World Bank
Bolivia made progress in health status
and equity in the last decade, thanks to the implementation
of a series of health policies directed primarily at
reducing maternal and infant mortality and controlling
communicable diseases. These policies include the
introduction of a focus on health outcomes in the context of
decentralization, the implementation of a public health
insurance, the strengthening of vertically-financed public
health programs and to a lesser extent, an increase in the
size of the sector's workforce and greater
participation of indigenous peoples for health. This report
analyzes these policies, draws lessons from their
implementation, discusses remaining challenges, and provides
recommendations in the context of the country's latest
policy developments. Findings show that while coverage has
increased in almost all municipalities, significant equity
gaps remain between the rich and the poor, the urban and
rural, and the indigenous and non-indigenous. The analysis
suggests that the Ministry of Health should concentrate on
three key issues: first, maintaining the focus on national
priorities in the context of the new, expanded maternal and
child insurance; second, strengthening efforts to extend
care to poor rural areas; and third, improving the
effectiveness of the system in the context of the new
management model.
Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMThttp://hdl.handle.net/10986/152092004-01-01T00:00:00ZPoverty and Nutrition in Boliviahttp://hdl.handle.net/10986/15203
Poverty and Nutrition in Bolivia
World Bank
Malnutrition is crippling Bolivia, and
the country must now face the political, and bureaucratic
failure in addressing malnutrition. This study defines the
nature, and extent of the malnutrition problem in the
country, identifies the underlying reasons for the failed
response, and outlines actions for both immediate, and more
long-term results. The study further estimates that less
than ten percent of government, and non-government
expenditures, with an explicit nutrition, or food security
component, is devoted to effective programs serving the
neediest - poor pregnant women, and malnourished children
under two. Public and private expenditures on nutrition are
often misdirected, for although Bolivia did achieve
successes in the advancement of nutrition over the past
twenty years, the problem of malnutrition still requires
action on several fronts. Primarily, nutrition needs a
national strategy, and functional leadership, able to
provide the population with accurate, and practical
nutritional knowledge, prioritizing effective interventions
for the most vulnerable. The study suggests improvements in
program design, by targeting assistance, and exploiting the
opportunities to improve nutrition through water and
sanitation, rural development, roads, and education
projects, which can have a profound effect on nutrition.
Recommendations include the development of nutrition
education focused on high-priority population, towards
creating a private commission to demand continuity of
Government attention to nutrition, as well as community
participation in nutrition programming.
Sun, 01 Dec 2002 00:00:00 GMThttp://hdl.handle.net/10986/152032002-12-01T00:00:00ZIndia : Reducing Poverty, Accelerating Developmenthttp://hdl.handle.net/10986/15185
India : Reducing Poverty, Accelerating Development
World Bank
Reducing poverty, and providing for
minimum needs, is the ultimate yardstick against which to
measure development. To this end, the study outlines
India's growth rate, improved social indicators, and
poverty reduction since the 1970s, but specifies that,
despite this progress, poverty is a serious concern, where
social indicators remain below comparator countries. Human
development is examined, focusing on social indicators,
stating the delivery of health and education is fraught with
limited accountability for performance and with low
management capacity. Governance is critical to development,
but the country's inadequate and adverse factors hinder
the development of public administration, instead,
performance incentives, and accountability within a
downsized civil service, effective financial management, and
decentralization should be pursued. Infrastructure should
attract private investments, but the perverse impact of
subsidies preclude the provision of private services.
However, regulatory agencies are imperfect alternatives to
competition, but corporatization would be an essential step
in attracting the private sector. The study further reviews
deregulation to increase trade growth and improve labor
market flexibility. Conclusions call for reforms, arguing it
would lead to higher growth, favorable balance of payments,
and further capital inflows, including foreign direct investments.
Sat, 01 Jan 2000 00:00:00 GMThttp://hdl.handle.net/10986/151852000-01-01T00:00:00Z